Fort Smith Regional Airport

KFSM / FSM

Fort Smith, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KFSM 042335Z 0500/0524 11011KT P6SM BKN250 FM050400 34008KT P6SM VCSH SCT050 BKN090 TEMPO 0505/0507 VRB15G25KT 3SM TSRA BKN040CB FM051000 34005KT P6SM SCT050 BKN100 FM051500 32005KT P6SM SCT050 BKN250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
04:00Z
+-1h
Sun
05:00Z
+0h
Sun
06:00Z
+1h
Sun
07:00Z
+2h
Sun
08:00Z
+3h
Sun
09:00Z
+4h
Sun
10:00Z
+5h
Sun
11:00Z
+6h
Sun
12:00Z
+7h
Sun
13:00Z
+8h
Sun
14:00Z
+9h
Sun
15:00Z
+10h
Sun
16:00Z
+11h
Sun
17:00Z
+12h
Sun
18:00Z
+13h
Sun
19:00Z
+14h
Sun
20:00Z
+15h
Sun
21:00Z
+16h
Sun
22:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
110°
E
VRB
VRB
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
110°
E
110°
E
Wind Speed
11 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
11 kt
11 kt
Visibility
>6SM
3SM
3SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN250
BKN040CB
BKN040CB
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
SCT050
BKN100
SCT050
BKN100
SCT050
BKN100
SCT050
BKN100
SCT050
BKN100
SCT050
BKN250
SCT050
BKN250
SCT050
BKN250
SCT050
BKN250
SCT050
BKN250
SCT050
BKN250
BKN250
BKN250
Ceiling
25,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:52Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:52Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:52Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:07Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:07Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:07Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:07Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:07Z
🌙
Night
Flight Rules
VFR: Visual Flight Rules
MVFR: Marginal VFR
IFR: Instrument Flight Rules
LIFR: Low IFR
Ceiling Colors
Red: < 500ft
Amber: 500-1000ft
Blue: 1000-3000ft
Green: > 3000ft
⛈️ TCU: Towering Cumulus
🌩️ CB: Cumulonimbus
+Nh: Hours from now%: Probability of occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
110° at 11 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 11 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM050400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
340° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050 BKN090
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 9000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 05:00Z - 07:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
3SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN040CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 3SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM051000 10:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Wind
340° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051500 15:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
320° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT050 BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

📚 Understanding TAF Forecasts

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) provides detailed weather forecasts specifically for aviation operations. Our system translates complex meteorological codes into plain English to help pilots of all experience levels understand forecasted conditions.

What TAF Includes:

  • • Wind direction, speed, and gusts
  • • Visibility in statute miles or kilometers
  • • Weather phenomena (rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms)
  • • Cloud coverage types and altitudes
  • • Forecast changes with timing
  • • Flight rules categories (VFR/IFR)

Change Indicators Explained:

  • BASE - Main forecast conditions
  • FM - Permanent change from specific time
  • BECMG - Gradual change over 2-4 hours
  • TEMPO - Temporary changes (less than 1 hour)
  • PROB30/40 - 30% or 40% probability

🛩️ Flight Rules Categories

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling ≥ 3000 ft
  • • Visibility ≥ 5 miles
  • • Good for visual flying

MVFR

Marginal VFR

  • • Ceiling 1000-3000 ft
  • • Visibility 3-5 miles
  • • Caution for VFR

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling 500-1000 ft
  • • Visibility 1-3 miles
  • • Instruments required

LIFR

Low IFR

  • • Ceiling < 500 ft
  • • Visibility < 1 mile
  • • Challenging conditions

💡 TAF Reading Tips

For Student Pilots:

  • • Focus on the plain English explanations above
  • • Pay attention to flight rules categories
  • • Look for wind direction relative to runway headings
  • • Check for temporary conditions (TEMPO)

For Experienced Pilots:

  • • Cross-reference with raw TAF for precise timing
  • • Consider probability forecasts for alternate planning
  • • Monitor BECMG periods for gradual changes
  • • Always check current METAR vs TAF forecast

Important: TAF forecasts should always be supplemented with current METAR observations, PIREPs, and other weather information for complete situational awareness. Weather can change rapidly, and forecasts have inherent limitations.